Despite the key losses, junior forward Ryan Taylor, who was selected to the All-Conference Preseason Team, said he is confident the Herd will pick up the slack going forward.

“The freshman coming in will help us out a lot,” Taylor said. “They can shoot, spread the floor, rebound and play hard. And every team needs that.”

Among the newcomers on the team, D’Antoni said he is hopeful about one West Virginia native who he feels will have a big impact on the team – Steve Browning, who was redshirted last season after transferring from Fairmont State University where he played his freshmen season.

“I think he was overlooked at the smaller school,” D’Antoni said. “ I think he’s a lot more disciplined now. He understands his reads, and he’s very athletic. He’s a typical West Virginian with a little chip on his shoulder. He’s going to bring that competitive edge to the team.”